
20
LESSONS ON THE TVORD AND SPIRIT.
us, bearing upon our Christian experience. We are sick
with sin (Isa. 1 : 5, 6), "but it is the will sof God to cleanse
us from sin, to make us his children, and to enable us to
live a holy life." The power is in his word (John 15: 3)
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1: 9), and
God desires to say to each one, "Be thou clean" (Mark
1 : 41). We are to believe that he is "able to do this"
(Matt. 9 : 2S), and, as of old, so he says to-day, "Accord-
ing to your faith be it unto you" (verse 29, compare with
Mark 5 : 34 ; 10 : 52, etc.). The result of disease finally is
death, as sin ends in the second death (James 1: 15 ;
Rom. 6: 23), and Satan has power over death (Heb. 2:
14). He is the prince of this world (John 12: 31), but
Christ has overcome the world (John 16: 33), meeting
the temptations of Satan with the word of God (read
Matt. 4 : 1-11), which is the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6 :
17). Faith in the same power gives us the same victory
(1 John 5 : 4). Lazarus came forth from the grave in re-
sponse to the word of Christ (John 11 : 43, 44), though
bound hand and foot; but the same authority said,
"Loose him." So we who were dead have been made
alive (Eph. 2: 1), and set free from the power of sin
(John 8: 34-36), and all who are in their graves will be
brought forth by the power of the same word (John 5 :
28, 29). Christ has given peace to his followers (John
14: 27), but the wicked know not of this peace (Isa. 57 :
20, 21). When the storms of life arise, his word will
bring a calm, as it did upon the lake. Christ's power
over the elements is further shown. by his walking upon
the water (Matt. 14 : 25-31). When he said to Peter,
" Come" (verse 29), he gave him his word to walk upon,
and it sustained him so long as he did not doubt. The
word of God placed the earth here (Heb. 11: 3); it is up-
held by the same word (Heb. 1 : 2), and by the same it
will be renewed .(Heb. 12 : 26, 27). Then the same word,
"Come," which upheld Peter, will be spoken to the